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By Colin Leon Guerrero

Sharks catcher Janey Nauta laces a triple to left field in the bottom of the fifth. (photo by Kevin Wang)

The Simon Sanchez Sharks are off to an impressive start to their IIAAG Girls Softball season after shredding the Academy Cougars 13-6 Saturday afternoon at the GW field.

A steady Shark attack was the right remedy against the Cougars as they jumped out to an early lead and never looked back.

The Sharks came out swinging as their offense set the tone of what was to come. Edelene Cruz hit a RBI double to left field that brought in Ha’ane Taitano and Dionade Taitingfong making the score 3-0 in the bottom of the first inning. The Cougars looked eager to score in the first with the bases loaded but only got in one score by Janae Leon Guerrero after pitcher Monica Mendiola walked Charise Minatoya.

The Sharks’ all around team effort and aggressive play were too much for the Cougars to handle. “We came together as a team, and it was a pretty good outcome,” said Sanchez catcher Janey Nauta, who had three hits including one of the most exciting plays of the game when she hit a triple deep to left field in the bottom of the fifth. She eventually advanced to home base after a mishap in the Academy outfield making the score 10-5.

“I just stuck to what my coaches told me, which is to stay aggressive and swing smart,” said Nauta when asked about the hit.

Monica Mendiola went the distance in the Sharks win, pitching seven innings. (photo by Kevin Wang)

McDonald’s player of the game: Sharks’ Janey Nauta.

Right after Nauta’s hit, Taitingfong hit a single to center and was quick to steal second base off another Cougar error, eventually running home as no one in the outfield were able to catch and throw the ball on time. Errors defensively seemed to be the story for the Cougars as the Sharks seized opportunities to steal bases whenever Academy slipped up.

That is not to say the Sharks played a perfect game either. A couple of errors made by the defense allowed Academy to score all of their points, which many of the Sanchez fans were no too happy about. According to Nauta, “We are not taking any team lightly this year.”

It showed as they put the Cougars away and earned a victory in their first game of the season.  Academy remains winless after two games.

In another game, the JFK Islander improved to 2-0 with a big 19-9 win over the Guam High Panthers.

PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

Sharks’ Monica Mendiola snares a comebacker for the out. (photo by Kevin Wang)

Cougars’ starting pitcher Jasmine Balajadia pitches a strike in the second inning. (photo by Kevin Wang)

Cougars’ Janae Leon Guerrero gave up 6 runs in 5 innings of relief. (photo by Kevin Wang)

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